Skype Hits Browsers as Part of Microsoft’s Outlook.com Webmail

Microsoft’s bid to build Outlook.com into a Gmail killer took a step forward on Tuesday with the rollout of new Skype integration. Every Outlook.com user can now use Skype to instant message with friends or launch a video call without leaving their inbox. No native app is required, though you’ll need a browser plugin.

The move essentially brings Outlook.com into feature parity with Gmail, which already has Google Hangouts integrated.

Microsoft has been testing these features with a small number of users since last April. The plugin works on both PCs and Macs, and across Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Apple Safari and Mozilla Firefox.